Welcome to some bookish fun today as we share Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader; and as we showcase The Friday 56 with Freda’s Voice.
To join in, just grab a book and share the opening lines…along with any thoughts you wish to give us; then turn to page 56 and excerpt anything on the page.
Then give us the title of the book, so others can add it to their lists!
If you have been wanting to participate, but haven’t yet tried, now is the time!
What better way to spend a Friday?
Today’s featured book is an ARC from Amazon Vine: After I’m Gone, by Laura Lippman.
Beginning: July 4, 1976
They left at dusk, about an hour before the fireworks were scheduled, and by the time they were at the old toll bridge over the Susquehanna, Felix could see glimmers of light through the one tiny window, little celebrations everywhere. He had told Julie to take the old way to Philadelphia, up Route 40. He was being cautious, yet nostalgic, too. He had gotten his start out here, taking action in the bars.
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56: If only people knew how obvious their lies were, at least to him. Maybe then they wouldn’t bother with them. “Nothing important,” she said, and he knew it was at least somewhat important.
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Blurb: Laura Lippman, the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of The Most Dangerous Thing, I’d Know You Anywhere, and What the Dead Know, returns with an addictive story that explores how one man’s disappearance echoes through the lives of the wife, mistress, and daughters he left behind.
When Felix Brewer meets Bernadette “Bambi” Gottschalk at a Valentine’s Dance in 1959, he charms her with wild promises, some of which he actually keeps. Thanks to his lucrative—if not all legal—businesses, she and their three little girls live in luxury. But on the Fourth of July, 1976, Bambi’s comfortable world implodes when Felix, newly convicted and facing prison, mysteriously vanishes.
Though Bambi has no idea where her husband—or his money—might be, she suspects one woman does: his mistress, Julie. When Julie disappears ten years to the day that Felix went on the lam, everyone assumes she’s left to join her old lover—until her remains are eventually found.
Now, twenty-six years after Julie went missing, Roberto “Sandy” Sanchez, a retired Baltimore detective working cold cases for some extra cash, is investigating her murder. What he discovers is a tangled web stretching over three decades that connects five intriguing women. And at the center is the missing man Felix Brewer.
Somewhere between the secrets and lies connecting past and present, Sandy will find the truth. And when he does, no one will ever be the same.
***
I am very eager to read this one! I am addicted to this author’s mysteries. Now I’m off to see what the rest of you are sharing.
Hi Laurel-Rain,
Wow! Felix certainly lives(d) life on the edge by the sound of things. I could definitely live without a life quite so complicated if I was ‘Bambi’.
Sounds like this one is going to be a great read, with enough going on to hang out the suspense right until the very end.
Enjoy! and have a good weekend,
Yvonne
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I agree, Yvonne…and I have a feeling there will be many twists and turns. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your read.
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I haven’t read this author before. I’ll have to give her a try.
My Friday post
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I can’t remember which of her books I read first, but I love them all. Her detective series is great, too. Thanks for stopping by, Vonnie.
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This is one of the books I received last week at a publishers’ event. I am anxious to start reading it, as Laura Lippman is one of my favorite authors. I met her last year at BEA and she was so nice–looking at her and conversing, you’d never imagine she writes about the dark side of human nature.
Here’s my Friday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/11/friday-focus-friday-56-book-beginnings.html
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Oh, I know…from her photo on the book jackets, she looks so sunny and like the girl next door. LOL
Thanks for stopping by, Catherine, and enjoy your weekend.
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I haven’t read anything by this author but the book sounds good, hope you enjoy it 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Sam, and I love Lippman’s books…hope you give her a try, too.
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I haven’t read her yet but this sounds very good.
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I really enjoy her books, Bea…I grab them as soon as they come out! If I can…. Thanks for stopping by.
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This author is new to me, but I’ll check out her books. After I’m Gone sounds like an excellent story that I’d enjoy.
Here’s my post: Book Beginnings & Friday 56.
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I really love her mysteries. Fast-paced, with characters I can connect with…I especially enjoy her Baltimore Blues series, that features a female detective, Tess Monaghan.
Thanks for stopping by, Sandra, and enjoy your pick.
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I have that Laura Lippman book too. Your beginning is making me want to move it up a few notches in the TBR stack. 🙂
THANKS for stopping by my blog earlier. I hope you get to read Gracianna. It is good. Her life is amazing.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Book Beginnings
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Yes, I like how these memes lead to those decisions. Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth, and enjoy your weekend.
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Hm lucrative businesses in 1959 and they’re all legal?? I suspect not 😛
My Friday56 post.
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I know that I’m intrigued….thanks for stopping by, Cookie, and enjoy your read.
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Sounds highly suspenseful!!
Happy Movember and happy weekend!
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Definitely! Thanks for visiting, Freda…and for hosting.
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I have never read her books, I don’t know why. This looks great!
Thanks for playing along on Book Beginnings! And thanks for Liking my new Rose City reader Book Blog page on Facebook!
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Thanks for stopping by, Gilion…and enjoy your weekend. And you’re welcome. I do enjoy playing.
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This sounds really good!
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I think so, too, Yvonne…thanks for stopping by!
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Wow, this sounds like a really intense read! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my post earlier!
Wendy @ Escape Into Fiction
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I totally agree, Wendy…thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your weekend.
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A lot of people don’t realize how obvious their lies are…and how much better it would be to tellt he truth upfront….
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You’re right….wouldn’t it be simpler to just tell the truth? Thanks for stopping by, Bev.
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